The fist pump was huge and the roar was loud on Sunday at the Dana Open presented by Marathon, rightfully so considering the struggles that Gaby Lopez has gone through this season. The 28-year-old captured her third LPGA Tour win last week in Sylvania, Ohio, and considering she’s battled two injuries – one in her wrist and one in her neck – and it was her first win since the 2020 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, this title meant just as much, if not more, to the Mexican.
“It's been tough. It's been dark. It has been negative. I've been not myself outside the golf course because I've been impatient. I've been frustrated. At some points it just gets in your head: am I going to be able to win again? Am I going to be able to compete? This past weekend just proved to myself that I'm not only a great player but I'm a great competitor,” said Lopez, who shot an 8-under 63 on the final day to tie her career-low LPGA Tour round and win by one. “Very exciting to be able to finally close it out. I just deep down believe that the best years of my golf are just getting to the surface. I'm not sure when or how far or how long it's going to take me or how far I'm going to get, but I just deep down believe that that's what I feel.”
As she turns her attention to this week’s Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G, Lopez hopes to carry her hot hand to the Kendale Course at Kenwood Country Club, a new venue on the LPGA Tour, and is looking forward to the excitement that comes with a new tournament. It’s the first time in 33 years that the Tour will tee it up in Cincinnati, Ohio and Lopez is feeling confident in the face of unfamiliarity. She’s got a renewed faith in her ability as a result of Sunday’s triumph and with eight events left on the schedule, Lopez has decided to throw the goals she set for herself at the beginning of the year out the window, opting instead to focus on how far she can go.
“I'm really excited to keep the momentum. I feel that having a brand-new tournament just brings more energy and more excitement to the Tour. Honestly, it's just really exciting to be able to be back and just compete for the first time in Cincinnati,” said Lopez. “Before (the win), I was picturing myself in the top 10 in the world and top 10 on the LPGA. But honestly, after yesterday and after Sunday, I really don't want to put a number. I want to be limitless. I want it
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